Body of Evidence

Women who covet an hourglass figure may be surprised to learn how rare that body type is. Cindy Istook, an associate professor at North Carolina State University, analyzed pictures of 6,300 women and found that 46 percent were rectangular, with busts, hips, and waists that are close in size; 20 percent were spoon shaped, with larger hips than busts; and 14 percent were inverted triangles, with smaller hips than busts. Only 8 percent of women were in the hourglass category. "We have no control over the genetic makeup that has a significant impact on our shape," Istook says. "But we can work to keep our bodies healthy by controlling weight and firming muscle."